Union Minister and Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi met Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Government of India, and requested him to start Vande Bharat train in between Dharwad and Bengaluru.
Railway Minister has given a positive assurance on the request of Shri Pralhad Joshi. Pralhad Joshi had met the minister to discuss various Railway projects in Karnataka.
However, the train services can be expected only when Electrification work gets completed in between Bengaluru and Hubballi. Electrification of the stretch is likely to be completed by end of 2023 or early 2024.
Vande Bharat express train is an Electric Multiple Unit (EMU Train) that runs entirely on electric traction. Electrification in between Bengaluru and Hubballi is in progress and it has reached Tumakuru from the Bengaluru side.
Vande Bharat express, also known as Train18 is an Indian-made Semi-high speed intercity train designed and manufactured by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai.
At present, 2 Vande Bharat express trains are running in India. One connects New Delhi with Varanasi (Train number 22435/6) and the other connects New Delhi with Shri Matha Vaishno Devi Katra station (Train number 22439/40).
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had recently said that 75 Train18 coaches will be rolled out in the next 75 weeks to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Indian Independence day.